Highlights
- Kingdom of Gaming 2026 will take place in Riyadh from Dec. 1-3, expecting 20K attendees, 300 exhibitors, and 500 studios.
- The event aims to unite developers, platforms, startups, and 200 investors, with projections of 25 investment and publishing deals.
- Saudi Arabia expands its games industry push as PIF boosts global stakes and pursues a $55B acquisition of Electronic Arts.
Saudi Arabia will introduce a major new gaming conference next year, with the inaugural ‘Kingdom of Gaming’ set to take place in Riyadh from Dec. 1 to 3, 2026. The event is being organized by Tahaluf, the joint venture between Informa and the Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming, and Drones, with support from the Events Investment Fund and PIF (Public Investment Fund)-owned Sela.
Organizers expect the conference to draw more than 20K attendees, 300 exhibitors and sponsors, and participation from 500 studios and developers. The show is also preparing to host over 50 startups and 200 investors, with an estimated 25 investment and publishing deals expected to emerge during the three-day program.
Kingdom of Gaming 2026 to Bring Global Developers and Investors to Riyadh
The event reinforces Saudi Arabia’s ongoing push to expand its footprint in the global games industry. The Public Investment Fund (PIF) holds major stakes in companies including Nintendo, Take-Two, and Capcom, and through Savvy Games Group owns Niantic, ESL Faceit, and Scopely.
The fund and its partners recently announced plans to acquire Electronic Arts for $55 billion USD, which would give the PIF a 93.4% stake if the deal is approved.
Tahaluf said the new conference aims to connect developers, studios, platforms, and investors while supporting long-term ecosystem growth in Saudi Arabia and the wider Global South. Annabelle Mander, EVP at Tahaluf, said the event is built in alignment with Vision 2030, noting, “Riyadh is shifting from being a market for games to becoming a place where games are made.”
The program will feature content districts, workshops, training sessions, and an investor track focusing on technology, infrastructure, and distribution. The show will run alongside Black Hat MEA 2026, creating a combined hub for gaming, cybersecurity, and emerging tech sectors.
Saudi Arabia continues to position gaming as a core driver of economic diversification, and Kingdom of Gaming is set to become one of the country’s largest platforms for engaging global creators and publishers.
